Update on federal actions affecting international students
April 16, 2025
Dear campus community,
We are proud to be a University that welcomes students, faculty and staff from around the world. Western Michigan University has a long and distinguished history of embracing international diversity and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Today, we enroll some 2,100 international students, both here in the states and abroad, enriching every Bronco.
Some 1.1 million international students are enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions. Enrolling them requires coordination with federal systems that govern a student’s status in the country. This includes a database known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS.
Among other recent actions impacting WMU and other higher education institutions, the federal government has moved to terminate some international students from SEVIS, including six current WMU students to date.
The SEVIS database is used by universities and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to track information about international students, exchange visitors and their dependents. While termination of a student’s SEVIS record does not automatically lead to immediate deportation, deportation is a possibility. To our knowledge, no WMU student has been deported.
While our institution has access to SEVIS records, we do not have access to students’ full visa status records nor are we routinely notified by the government of any such changes beyond what appears in the SEVIS system.
Staff in our International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office have been actively working one-on-one with affected students on a case-by-case basis to help them understand their legal and procedural options while protecting their privacy. We remind faculty and staff not to disclose personally identifiable information or the educational records of our students, as this information is protected under our FERPA policy.
We are closely monitoring the SEVIS system for any additional changes and remain committed to supporting those who might be impacted. Any student who is unsure of their SEVIS or visa status—or who has related questions—is encouraged to contact WMU ISSS advising. Faculty and staff seeking guidance on behalf of a student should refer them directly to ISSS for the most accurate and timely support.
We are concerned about these developments and understand that they are creating uncertainty and anxiety. We want our international family to feel welcome and safe on our campus. To help members of our community cope through times of stress and difficulty, WMU offers counseling support, and we urge anyone in need of these services to please take advantage of them. Counseling resources, such as WMU Counseling Services and Uwill, are available to students, and the Employee Assistance Program is available for faculty and staff.
We appreciate your care, compassion and abiding dedication to making our campus a welcoming place for all—a value WMU will always uphold.
Edward Montgomery, Ph.D.
President
Christopher Cheatham, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Keith Hahn, J.D.
General Counsel
Ying Zeng, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Provost for Global Education
Senior Director of Asian Initiatives